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Dodgers' Path to the Postseason: Sept. 30, 2012

Dodgers' Path to the Postseason: Sept. 30, 2012

9/29/12: Matt Kemp clobbers a solo home run to deep left field, his 21st of the season, to shatter a scoreless tie in the fourth inning

By Alex Angert
/
MLB.com |

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers aren't out of it just yet.

The Dodgers' 3-0 victory over the Rockies on Saturday night -- coupled with the Cardinals' extra-inning loss to the Nationals -- kept the team's playoff hopes alive as the Dodgers now sit two games out of the final National League Wild Card spot with four games remaining.

The Dodgers have one game left against the Rockies on Sunday, before hosting the Giants for the final three games of the regular season.

Before facing the Reds for one last series, the Cardinals have one more game against the Nationals, of whom manager Don Mattingly made one request at the end of his postgame press conference Saturday.

Magic numbers
To calculate a team's magic number, take the number of games it has remaining and add one. Then subtract the difference in the number of losses between that team and its closest pursuer.

Tiebreaker scenarios
A tiebreaker game will be played to determine a division winner, even if the tied clubs are assured of participating in the postseason. If a division championship tiebreaker is necessary, the head-to-head record between the clubs will determine home-field advantage. If the head-to-head record is tied, then the division record will be the next tiebreaker.

If two clubs are tied for the two Wild Card berths, home-field advantage will be determined by the head-to-head record between the clubs. If the head-to-head record is tied, then the division record will be the next tiebreaker.